France September 2017

LES NOUVELLES
SOMME TOUR
Gain new insights into World War I
during a five-day ‘Battlefields of
the Somme’ coach tour. The trip,
led by an expert guide, will take
you to key locations such as Vimy
Ridge and the Thiepval Memorial as
well as the Somme 1916 Museum in
Albert and the Historial de la
Grande Guerre in Péronne. Prices
start from £314pp based on
a departure on 29 April 2018, and
include four nights’ half-board
accommodation at a hotel in
Valenciennes, coach travel and
three excursions.
Tel: 0344 824 6351
shearings.com
CATHAR WALK
Follow the footsteps of the Cathar
heretics on a self-guided holiday in
south-west France from Walks
Worldwide. During the eight-day
trip, you will pass through charming
villages, explore unspoilt
mountains and valleys, and
visit clifftop castles
associated with the
Cathars, such as
Peyrepertuse
(pictured). You can
also sample the
Mediterraneaninfluenced
cuisine
and robust wines. Two
itineraries are available or
they can be combined. Prices
start from £802pp based on two
sharing (£1,549 for 15 days) and
include half-board accommodation
in hotels and guesthouses.
Tel: 01962 302 085
walksworldwide.com
DID YOU KNOW?
France’s oldest public
museum, the Musée
des Beaux-Arts et
d’Archéologie,
opened in Besançon
in 1694.
Family fun in
the mountains
From donkey rides to bobsleighing, the French Alps have
a choice of summer activities that all ages will enjoy
HIRE A DONKEY
In the resort of Les Contamines-Montjoie,
families can keep little ones entertained by
hiking with donkeys. Either hire a donkey for
a few hours for a self-guided trek or let
a professional guide lead you on a half-day or
day trip. Resorts such as Val-d’Isère and
Les Arcs organise guided walks to working
donkey farms.
Tel: (Fr) 4 50 47 01 58
lescontamines.com
Tel: (Fr) 4 79 06 06 60
valdinet.com
TRAVEL IN THE TREES
Young daredevils will be in their element at
the Accro’Park des Gaillands tree-climbing
adventure centre in Chamonix, where children
can choose a circuit to suit their height and
abilities, and a new 600-metre-long zip wire
has stunning views of Mont Blanc.
Tel: (Fr) 4 50 78 26 49
cham-aventure.com
TRY CANI-RANDO
The summer version of
dog-sledding is great fun
for children, who wear
a harness attached to the
dogs while being towed
along different hiking tracks.
In Aussois, thrill-seekers aged
seven and above can book
a half-day outing, while in La Plagne,
children as young as six can enjoy a day of
cani-rando with their parents.
Tel: (Fr) 4 79 20 30 80
aussois.com
Tel: (Fr) 4 79 09 02 01
la-plagne.com
GO BOBSLEIGHING
The bobsleigh is not just a winter activity, as
you will find out in the resort of La Clusaz,
where visitors zoom down an 800-metrelong
track on either single or
double bobsleighs.
Tel: (Fr) 4 50 32 65 00
laclusaz.com
SPOT A MARMOT
Families can take a leisurely walk and see
local wildlife in the mountains around the
resort of Flaine north-west of Chamonix.
Tour group Flaine Mountain organises
three-hour hikes for grown-ups and children
aged over six, and knows just where to look
for marmots.
Tel: (Fr) 4 50 90 80 01
flaine.com
For more information, visit savoie-montblanc.com
PHOTOGRAPHS: GETTY IMAGES/iSTOCKPHOTO; ARDILLIERJULIEN CC BY-SA 3.0; SAVOIE MONT BLANC TOURISME;
OT HAUTE MAURIENNE VANOISE; SMB-AGENCEZOOM-BOMPARD
www.completefrance.com FRANCE MAGAZINE 19